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Lac Daumesnil is a compact urban reservoir within Paris's Bois de Vincennes, offering accessible carp and bream fishing just 149 miles from Calais—ideal for a quick weekend trip. Bank fishing only with no night fishing, so expect daytime sessions targeting specimens in this 15-hectare venue that holds a solid mix of carp, pike, tench and perch. You'll need a valid French fishing licence and membership with AAPPMA La Gaule de Paris to fish legally.
Night fishing at Lac Daumesnil is permitted but with restrictions. Night carp in Paris is authorised on the Seine river around specific islands (Île Saint-Louis, Île de la Cité, Île aux Cygnes) per annual arrêté. Vegetable baits only. Immediate release. Source: federation-peche-paris.fr/808-reglementation.htm
Boat fishing: Boat access is restricted at Lac Daumesnil. Rowing boats and paddle boats available for hire. Day fishing from boats subject to Paris federation rules.
Bivouac & overnight camping is not permitted at Lac Daumesnil. Urban Bois de Vincennes park — no camping.
Required permits & cards: Paris fishing card. Verify rules with Fédération de Pêche de Paris.
Managed by AAPPMA La Gaule de Paris / FDPPMA 75/92/93/94. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Lac Daumesnil holds carp, pike, perch, tench, bream. Carp are the primary draw for visiting UK anglers. All carp should be handled with care and returned promptly. A landing mat and unhooking mat are essential kit for any carp session.
A valid Carte de Pêche is required to fish Lac Daumesnil — you will also need to be affiliated with AAPPMA La Gaule de Paris / FDPPMA 75/92/93/94. Licences are available online before your trip.
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2nd Category water. Carp/coarse: open all year. Pike: 25 Apr 2026–31 Jan 2027 (closed Feb–Apr). Zander/Perch/Catfish: all year. Pike season as above.
Always verify current rules with the local AAPPMA (AAPPMA La Gaule de Paris / FDPPMA 75/92/93/94) before fishing. French fishing regulations can change seasonally.
France is the closest mainland European fishing destination for UK anglers. The Channel Tunnel (Folkestone–Calais, ~35 min) is the fastest crossing, while P&O Ferries (Dover–Calais, ~90 min) offer good value for heavy kit. Most northern French venues are within 2–4 hours of Calais; southern venues require a full day of driving.
A Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence) is required for all freshwater fishing. Buy online at cartedepeche.fr before you travel. Annual, weekly and daily options are available and include your AAPPMA affiliation for the selected department.
To fish Lac Daumesnil, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with AAPPMA La Gaule de Paris / FDPPMA 75/92/93/94 is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online. Lac Daumesnil is 149 miles from Calais — reachable on the day of crossing.
Paris is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Paris or explore all of Île-de-France.
France offers outstanding fishing year-round. The main coarse close season applies to some rivers (typically January–March for certain species), but still-water carp fishing on private and AAPPMA-managed lakes is available throughout the year. Spring (March–June) is the classic French carp season, with fish actively feeding and moving into shallow margins. Summer nights (June–August) are ideal for big-fish sessions on the large public reservoirs and rivers. Autumn (September–November) is particularly productive on the Auvergne and Languedoc lakes as temperatures drop. The Loire and Saône river systems produce excellent catfish sport from June through September, while the Dordogne and its tributaries fish well for chub, barbel and trout from spring through autumn.
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